Vikings Announce Matt Daniels as Special Teams Coordinator in 2nd Hiring Wave

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Monday announced Matt Daniels will be Minnesota’s special teams coordinator. Daniels’ hire was part of a second wave of assistants added by new Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, who became the 10th head coach in Vikings history last week. Other assistants hired included Wes Phillips as offensive coordinator and the return to Minnesota by Daronte Jones as defensive backs coach. (Related: 5 Things to Know About Wes Phillips). Jones coached Minnesota’s defensive backs in 2020 before his hire as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021.Daniels attended Duke University from 2008-11 and joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012 when the Rams were located in St. Louis. The Vikings also announced Ben Kotwica as assistant special teams coach, and Mike Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach/pass rush specialist. Kotwica played linebacker (1993-96) and was a team captain at Army. He then served in the Army as a helicopter pilot with multiple international missions. Smith, a former seventh-round pick by the Ravens in 2005, is joining the Vikings after boosting Green Bay’s pass rush for the past three seasons. Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels Daniels’ NFL Career as a Player Rams 2012-14 Jaguars 2014-15 Chargers 2015 Daniels’ College/NFL Coaching Experience Rams 2018-19 (Asst. Special Teams) Cowboys 2020-21 (Asst. Special Teams) Colorado 2017 (Graduate Asst.)Assistant Special Teams Ben Kotwica Kotwica’s Coaching Career United States Military Academy Prep School 2005-06 (Defensive Coordinator) Jets 2007-08 (Defense/Special Teams Quality Control); 2009-12 (Asst. Special Teams); 2013 (Special Teams Coordinator) Commanders 2014-18 (Special Teams Coordinator) Falcons 2019-20 (Special Teams Coordinator) Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips Phillips’ College/NFL Coaching Experience UTEP 2003 (Student Asst.) West Texas A&M 2004-05 (Quarterbacks) Baylor 2006 (Quarterbacks) Cowboys 2007-10 (Quality control/offensive assistant); 2011-12 (Asst. Offensive Line); 2013 (Tight Ends) Commanders 2014-18 (Tight Ends) Rams 2019-20 (Tight Ends); 2021 (Tight Ends and Passing Game Coordinator) Defensive Backs Daronte Jones Jones’ Coaching Experience Lenoir-Rhyne 2001 (Graduate Asst.) Nicholls State 2002 (Safeties) Franklin High School (Louisiana) 2003 (Defensive Coordinator) Jeanerette High School (Louisiana) 2004 (Cornerbacks) Bowie State 2005-09 (Asst. Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator) UCLA 2010 (Graduate Asst.) Montreal Alouettes 2011 (Defensive Backs) Hawaii 2012-13 (Secondary); 2014 (Asst. Head Coach and Secondary) Wisconsin 2015 (Defensive Backs) Dolphins 2016-17 (Asst. Defensive Backs) Bengals 2018-19 (Cornerbacks) Vikings 2020 (Defensive Backs) LSU 2021 (Defensive Coordinator) Outside Linebackers/Pass Rush Specialist Mike Smith Smith’s NFL Playing Career Ravens 2005-08 Smith’s College/NFL Coaching Career Hawaii 2009 (Linebackers) Jets 2010-11 (Coaching Intern); 2012 (Outside Linebackers) Texas Tech 2013 (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers); 2014 (Interim Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers); 2015 (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line) Chiefs 2016-17 (Asst. Defensive Line); 2018 (Outside Linebackers) Packers 2019-21 (Outside Linebackers)

News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Announce Matt Daniels as Special Teams Coordinator in 2nd Hiring Wave

Hanzus Explains Where Vikings Fit In Power Rankings Following First Wave of Free Agency

Where Do The Vikings Stand After The First Wave of Free Agency As The Draft Approaches?

Trevor Sikkema on Vikings' Approach To Free Agency So Far, Team's First Round Options In The Draft and More

Oliver: This Is A Great Opportunity and A Great Time To Be A Viking

Film Room: How Byron Murphy's Versatility and Smarts Will Make Him An Impact Player For The Vikings

Oliver Explains Why He Signed With The Vikings, Excelling at Being A Blocking Tight End and More

Murphy on Becoming A Viking: It Already Feels Like Home

The Voyage | Episode 04 | Season 4